CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Culture and Audiovisual Council

Tessa Jowell: On 14 November I chaired the Education, Youth and Culture Council in Brussels, when the Culture and Audiovisual agenda items were taken. Patricia Ferguson MSP, Scottish Executive Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, represented the UK. Education and Youth issues were taken on 15 November.
	I chaired a discussion over lunch regarding plans for the switchover to digital television. The aim of the discussion was to share experiences and exchange good practice. All Member States agreed that it was a big challenge, but one that is achievable. Many stressed the added value of digital television especially for minority groups and strengthening cultural diversity. Many felt that state aid may have a role to play in ensuring that minority groups were not left behind. It was noted that different Member States were using different technologies, partly reflecting their different backgrounds. Commissioner Reding (Information Society and Media) noted the close interest of Telecoms Ministers and suggested a joint meeting might be useful in the future.
	The Council agreed partial political agreements on the MEDIA 2007 programme, which provides financial support for the European film industry, and the Culture 2007 programme, which will provide financial support for transnational co-operation projects in the field of culture. The budgetary aspects of these programmes will be decided once the financial perspectives have been agreed.
	With regard to the Culture 2007 programme, a compromise was reached on the wording relating to the eligibility of non-audiovisual cultural industries, which made clear that EU funding could not be used to support profit-making activities. On comitology, Member States unanimously agreed that all projects applying for an EU contribution of over €200,000 (£135,000) should be submitted to the management procedure. The minimum number of operators participating in projects was also agreed.
	The Council agreed to a general approach on the proposal to improve the selection and monitoring procedures and the EU dimension of the European Capital of Culture Programme. In addition, the Council designated Linz and Vilnius as Capitals of Culture for 2009 and nominated the Council's two representatives (Mr Claude Frisoni and Sir Jeremy Isaacs) for the selection panel looking at the proposed Capitals for 2010.
	I also chaired an exchange of views regarding the Commission's proposals to develop European digital libraries. All Member States spoke in support of further work on European digital libraries and the great majority supported the Commission's proposed approach of developing a network of digital libraries, rather than supporting a single, central library. Some felt that the latter option would be too costly and instead preferred to build on ongoing work. Co-operation with other Member States would avoid duplication and allow common standards to be developed so that digitised material could be shared more easily. A number of Ministers asked the Commission to do more work on possible costs involved and noted that decisions needed to be taken on what would be funded by the Member States and what would be funded by the EU.
	It was noted that there were a number of key issues, such as ensuring that intellectual property rights were respected and making sure the initiative promoted all European languages, including minority languages.
	Commissioner Figel (Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism) welcomed the adoption of the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity in October and noted that the Commission would soon bring forward a proposal for Community ratification. He also presented the Commission proposal for a European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008.

DEFENCE

Gulf Veterans

Don Touhig: On 31 October, a Pensions Appeal Tribunal announced its decision in the case of Mr Daniel Martin. The Government welcome the acceptance by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal of the umbrella term Gulf War Syndrome to cover conditions causally linked to the 1990–91 Gulf War. The Government hope that the use of the umbrella term will address the known concern of some Gulf veterans that we have not recognised a link between their ill-health and the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict. We hope that this will help to provide an element of closure for those who have sought some acknowledgement that their ill-health is connected to their Gulf service.
	The Government also welcome the decision by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal which found that there was no reliable evidence to show that Gulf War Syndrome is a discrete medical condition. This confirms the view which the Ministry of Defence has consistently taken and which is based on the overwhelming consensus of worldwide medical and scientific opinion.
	The level of awards will not be affected by the use of the umbrella term as it has always been the policy of the Ministry of Defence to award in full where evidence of disablement is shown and where that disablement is due to, or aggravated by, service.
	The issues surrounding the ill-health reported by veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict remain a priority for the Government. We have acknowledged that some veterans of the Gulf Conflict have become ill and that this ill-health may be related to their Gulf service. Since taking office in 1997, the Government have made it a priority to assist veterans or their dependants by providing medical help, initiating scientific research, making information available and providing financial assistance. We will continue this approach, as appropriate, for the future.

Future Infantry Structure

John Reid: On 16 December 2004 my predecessor announced to the House, Official Report, columns 1795–1800 (part no.6) volume 428, plans to re-balance the army and reduce the infantry from 40 to 36 battalions, with associated changes to the titles of the infantry battalions and regiments.
	Since the announcement, significant further planning and consultation has been undertaken. This has seen detailed and extensive work, which has included a period of local consultation led by the regiments and divisions. As a result, and with the full approval of Her Majesty The Queen, I am happy to announce the new titles of the Regular and TA infantry regiments and battalions as follows:
	
		
			 Current Regimental/Battalion Title New Regimental/Battalion Titles Abbreviation 
		
		
			 The Guards Division 
			 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 1 GRENGDS 
			 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards 1 COLDMGDS 
			 1st Battalion Scots Guards 1st Battalion Scots Guards 1SG 
			 1st Battalion Irish Guards 1st Battalion Irish Guards 1 IG 
			 1st Battalion Welsh Guards 1st Battalion Welsh Guards 1 WG 
		
	
	
		The Scottish Division
		
			  
		
		
			 The Royal Regiment of Scotland 
			 Formation Arrangements: Regimental formation by the end of March 2006, with The Royal Scots and The King's Own Scottish Borderers Battalions of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, amalgamating on 1 August 2006. 
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) Amalgamates to become The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 1 SCOTS 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 2 SCOTS 
			 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers Amalgamates to become The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland as above 1 SCOTS(as above) 
			 1st Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 3 SCOTS 
			 1st Battalion The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 SCOTS 
			 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 5 SCOTS 
			 Territorial Army Battalions 
			 52nd Lowland Regiment 52nd Lowland, 6 SCOTS 
			  6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 
			 51st Highland Regiment 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 7 SCOTS 
		
	
	
		The Queen's Division
		
			  
		
		
			 The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 1 PWRR 
			 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 2 PWRR 
			  Territorial Army Battalion 
			 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 3 PWRR  The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 
			  Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 1 RRF 
			 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 2 RRF 
			  Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The Tyne Tees Regiment 1 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 5 RRF 
		
	
	
		The Royal Anglian Regiment
		
			  
		
		
			 Regular Army Battalions 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment 1 R ANGLIAN 
			 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment 2 R ANGLIAN 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The East of England Regiment 2 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment 3 R ANGLIAN 
		
	
	
		The King's Division
		
			  
		
		
			 The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)Formation Arrangements: Regimental formation 1 July 2006. 
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1stBattalion The King's Own Royal Border Regiment 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) 1 LANCS 2 LANCS 
			 1st Battalion The King's Regiment 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) 
			 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment 
			 The King's Division 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) 4 LANCS 3   The Yorkshire Regiment (14th / 15th, 19th and 33rd / 76th Foot)Formation Arrangements: Regimental formation 6 June 2006. 
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion Prince Of Wales's Own Regiment Of Yorkshire 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment(Prince Of Wales's Own) 1 YORKS 
			 1st Battalion The Green Howards (Alexandra,Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 2nd Battalion TheYorkshire Regiment(Green Howards) 2 YORKS 
			 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment(West Riding) 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's) 3 YORKS 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The East and West Riding Regiment 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment 4 YORKS 
		
	
	
		The Prince of Wales's Division
		
			  
		
		
			 The Mercian RegimentFormation Arrangements: The Mercian Regiment will form on 24 August 2007. 
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment 1st Battalion TheMercian Regiment(Cheshire) 1 MERCIAN 
			 1st Battalion TheWorcestershire andSherwood ForestersRegiment (26th/45th Foot) 2nd Battalion TheMercian Regiment(Worcesters andForesters) 2 MERCIAN 
			 1st Battalion TheStaffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's) 3rd Battalion TheMercian Regiment (Staffords) 3 MERCIAN 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The West Midlands Regiment 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment 4 MERCIAN The Royal WelshFormation Arrangements: Regimental formation 1 March 2006. 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) 1 R WELSH 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales) 2 R WELSH 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The Royal WelshRegiment 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh 3 R WELSH 
		
	
	
		The Light Division
		
			  
		
		
			 The RiflesFormation Arrangements: Formed in 2007. 
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion TheDevonshire and DorsetLight Infantry and 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry 1st Battalion The Rifles 1 RIFLES 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets 2nd Battalion The Rifles 2 RIFLES 
			 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry 3rd Battalion The Rifles 3 RIFLES 
			 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets 4th Battalion The Rifles 4 RIFLES 
			 1st Battalion The Light Infantry 5th Battalion The Rifles 5 RIFLES 
			 Territorial Army Battalions 
			 The Rifle Volunteers 6th Battalion The Rifles 6 RIFLES 
			 The Royal Rifle Volunteers 7th Battalion The Rifles 4 7 RIFLES 
		
	
	
		The RoyaL Irish Regiment (27th(Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment) 5 
		
			  
		
		
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment 1 RIRISH 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The Royal Irish Rangers The Royal Irish Rangers RANGERS 
		
	
	
		The Parachute Regiment
		
			  
		
		
			 Regular Battalions 
			 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 6 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment 1 PARA 
			 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 2nd Battalion TheParachute Regiment 2 PARA 
			 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment 3 PARA 
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment 4 PARA 
		
	
	
		The Brigade of Gurkhas
		
			  
		
		
			 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles 1 RGR 
			 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles 2 RGR 
		
	
	
		The London Regiment
		
			  
		
		
			 Territorial Army Battalion 
			 The London Regiment 7 The London Regiment LONDONS 
		
	
	1 Currently within the King's Division and not part of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
	2 Currently not part of the Royal Anglian Regiment.
	3 On formation in Jul 06 the new regiment will have 3 regular Bns with the TA Bn known as 4 LANCS. The 3 regular battalions will merge to form 1 LANCS and 2 LANCS in Mar 07. This is a change to the title announced in Dec 04; this is at the Regiments own request.
	4 Formed from Bn HQ and 2 x Coys of RRV with 2 x Coys of LONDONS.
	5 Not included are the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment who have not been subject to FAS.
	6 As announced on 16 December 2004, 1 PARA will be the core of the new Tri-Service Special Forces Support Group, and will be removed from the infantry structure.
	7 Currently within the Queen's Division.
	The Chief of the General Staff (General Sir Mike Jackson) has written to the Infantry Colonels Commandant informing them of these changes.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Social Exclusion Unit Report

Phil Woolas: Today the Social Exclusion Unit in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is publishing a major report entitled "Transitions: Young Adults with Complex Needs".
	The report proposes:
	a renewed focus on the 16- to 25-year-old age group, building on the
	Government's successful programmes for disadvantaged children and families;
	a focus on the invisible early twenties, the age at which youth policies have tended to end;
	the need for all young adults to have a trusted adult in their lives to help negotiate their way around different agencies; and,
	smoother—and therefore better—transitions between services by joining up vertically to promote continuity of service from adolescence to adulthood.
	The report highlights three key themes:
	Thinking and Behaviour
	For young adults, issues around thinking and behaviour are particularly critical because decisions made during the transition to adulthood—particularly in areas like education and employment—are some of the most important and far-reaching decisions taken at any time of life.
	Age-bound services
	The importance of the issue of age boundaries was reinforced during this project by practitioners and young people alike. Two issues dominated the discussion of this area: the often abrupt ending of services once a young person reaches a certain age, and the sometimes poor transition between youth and adult services.
	Holistic services and the 'trusted adult'.
	Young adults with multiple problems may lack the skills and resilience needed to make the transition to adulthood. Support, advice and guidance are crucial in order for young adults to make a successful transition. For many young adults this will come from their parents, relatives, guardians, or teachers—but not all young adults have these sources of support. For them, this supporting role may be filled by a personal advisor or mentor— or someone else acting in the role of 'trusted adult'.
	The report contains 27 action points to be taken forward by Government Departments. The Implementation Team in the Social Exclusion Unit will monitor the progress made by the Departments on individual action points and will work to ensure that the overarching goals contained within the report are pursued across Government.
	Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will chair an ad-hoc group of Ministers from key Departments to oversee progress towards the action points contained in the report.
	Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Further copies can be downloaded from http://www.socialexclusion.gov.uk/ downloaddoc.asp?id=785

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Database

Jack Straw: On 6 April I announced the database of parliamentarians' foreign affairs interests that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had created.
	Since then, the FCO has been working on a new Parliamentary Question (PQ) management system so that it can be compatible with the next generation of the FCO's desktop IT system which will be introduced next year. The new PQ management system will allow officials throughout the Department to see the FCO questions that hon. Members have asked. In order to concentrate parliamentary information in one place, this new system will also replace the database of parliamentary interests, and in addition to records of Parliamentary Questions hon. Members have asked, it will include records of their participation in foreign affairs debates.

HEALTH

12th Wave Work Programme (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)

Jane Kennedy: Today I am announcing referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of topics for its 12th Wave work programme,
	I am referring to NICE clinical guidelines in the following areas:
	Low Back Pain;
	Stroke;
	Glaucoma;
	Irritable bowel syndrome;
	Investigation of children with suspected abuse;
	Chronic Kidney Disease;
	Spinal Cord Compression;
	Borderline Personality Disorder; and
	Antisocial (Dissocial) Personality Disorder.
	I am also asking NICE to consult on the remit and scope for technology appraisals of the following:
	Autologous tumour vaccine for stage i-iii renal cell carcinoma;
	Idaraparinux sodium for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism;
	Neuro-imaging in the first onset atypical psychosis;
	Cochlear Implants;
	Recombinant factor Vila for traumatic bleeding;
	Rimonabant for smoking cessation, weight loss and reduction of cardiovascular risk factors of overweight obesity;
	Certolizumab pegol and natalizumab for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease;
	Varenicline for smoking cessation;
	Alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke;
	Rituximab and abatacept for the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthrits Adalimumab and leflunomide for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis;
	Ruboxistaurin (LY333531) for diabetic eye disease;
	Tegaserod maleate and cilansetron for Irritable Bowel Syndrome;
	Continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) for Sleep Apnoea; and
	Muragiltazar and tesaglitazar for type II diabetes and associated lipid abnormalities.
	Early referral of Herceptin (Trastuzumab) for early stage breast cancer and Velcade (Bortezomib) for multiple myeloma was made on 21 July.
	NICE will begin consultation with organisations representing patients, healthcare professionals and the healthcare industries on the remit and scope of these technology appraisals. I will consider the comments arising from the consultation when finalising the precise remit of the appraisal topics.
	I will shortly be considering proposals for public health topics which will be included in this programme of work.
	Further information including details of the remits of the topics may be found on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.
	NICE will be publishing indicative timescales for its work on these topics in due course.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's Annual Report 2004–05

Caroline Flint: The 2004–05 annual report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority was laid before the House today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Police Use of Firearms (England and Wales)

Hazel Blears: The statistics for 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 show that the number of police operations in which firearms were authorised was 15,981.
	The Police discharged a conventional firearm 18 times covering five incidents. In addition, the Police discharged baton rounds in 23 incidents and fired Taser in 35 incidents.
	Armed response vehicles were deployed on 13,137 occasions and there were 6,243 authorised firearms officers in England and Wales.
	Full details are set out in the tables below:
	
		NUMBER OF OPERATIONS IN WHICH FIREARMS WERE AUTHORISED
		
			  
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 TOTAL 13,991 14,827 16,657 15,981 
			 AVON & SOMERSET 195 262 311 333 
			 BEDFORDSHIRE 237 301 442 475 
			 CAMBRIDGESHIRE 114 57 104 241 
			 CHESHIRE 419 451 397 358 
			 CLEVELAND 37 170 453 530 
			 CITY OF LONDON 40 131 364 404 
			 CUMBRIA 71 77 72 152 
			 DERBYSHIRE 275 401 369 287 
			 DEVON & CORNWALL 101 96 112 71 
			 DORSET 184 193 231 223 
			 DURHAM 89 83 156 144 
			 ESSEX 323 312 275 296 
			 GLOUCESTERSHIRE 165 185 127 176 
			 GTR MANCHESTER 580 518 507 461 
			 HAMPSHIRE 198 162 208 237 
			 HERTFORDSHIRE 112 172 195 185 
			 HUMBERSIDE 297 187 183 206 
			 KENT 115 137 207 163 
			 LANCASHIRE 232 238 318 241 
			 LEICESTERSHIRE 300 268 295 260 
			 LINCOLNSHIRE 477 392 386 294 
			 MERSEYSIDE 1,020 628 751 733 
			 METROPOLITAN 2,447 3,199 3,563 2,964 
			 NORFOLK 175 200 178 195 
			 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 43 138 148 158 
			 NORTHUMBRIA 1,440 1,275 1,140 977 
			 NORTH YORKSHIRE 92 100 147 185 
			 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 384 452 459 408 
			 SOUTH YORKSHIRE 258 463 484 546 
			 STAFFORDSHIRE 232 281 255 216 
			 SUFFOLK 163 270 251 153 
			 SURREY 245 247 203 151 
			 SUSSEX 248 204 280 187 
			 THAMES VALLEY 179 167 195 289 
			 WARWICKSHIRE 130 149 164 124 
			 WEST MERCIA 117 91 197 162 
			 WEST MIDLANDS 822 902 1377 1264 
			 WEST YORKSHIRE 757 604 575 853 
			 WILTSHIRE 45 58 63 88 
			 DYFED POWYS 28 29 28 51 
			 GWENT 20 37 40 81 
			 NORTH WALES 302 259 197 223 
			 SOUTH WALES 283 281 250 236 
		
	
	
		NUMBER OF AUTHORISED FIREARMS OFFICERS (AFOs)
		
			  
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 TOTAL 5,776 5,763 6,096 6,243 
			 AVON & SOMERSET 116 84 122 118 
			 BEDFORDSHIRE 48 53 58 56 
			 CAMBRIDGESHIRE 56 71 60 60 
			 CHESHIRE 81 89 75 76 
			 CLEVELAND 85 80 95 100 
			 CITY OF LONDON 73 72 86 89 
			 CUMBRIA 92 87 89 90 
			 DERBYSHIRE 80 69 70 74 
			 DEVON & CORNWALL 108 115 132 123 
			 DORSET 57 59 60 64 
			 DURHAM 86 102 97 103 
			 ESSEX 180 184 186 202 
			 GLOUCESTERSHIRE 71 80 82 93 
			 GTR MANCHESTER 219 202 205 187 
			 HAMPSHIRE 87 94 94 92 
			 HERTFORDSHIRE 46 47 50 53 
			 HUMBERSIDE 96 96 96 101 
			 KENT 113 93 90 94 
			 LANCASHIRE 138 129 122 115 
			 LEICESTERSHIRE 69 68 51 53 
			 LINCOLNSHIRE 91 87 78 86 
			 MERSEYSIDE 78 84 94 93 
			 METROPOLITAN 1,805 1,823 2,060 2,134 
			 NORFOLK 104 109 114 125 
			 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 51 56 52 50 
			 NORTHUMBRIA 125 99 90 93 
			 NORTH YORKSHIRE 66 64 60 56 
			 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 136 131 J 138 138 
			 SOUTH YORKSHIRE 92 100 98 122 
			 STAFFORDSHIRE 71 63 67 76 
			 SUFFOLK 90 80 96 88 
			 SURREY 62 48 53 49 
			 SUSSEX 120 141 134 130 
			 THAMES VALLEY 156 180 172 176 
			 WARWICKSHIRE 50 51 46 53 
			 WEST MERCIA 125 131 139 141 
			 WEST MIDLANDS 111 110 124 134 
			 WEST YORKSHIRE 116 132 140 130 
			 WILTSHIRE 71 78 80 74 
			 DYFED POWYS 77 62 58 79 
			 GWENT 57 60 71 74 
			 NORTH WALES 83 75 73 65 
			 SOUTH WALES 138 125 139 134 
		
	
	
		NUMBER OF OPERATIONS INVOLVING ARMED RESPONSE VEHICLES (ARVs)
		
			  
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 TOTAL 11,574 11,848 13,218 13,137 
			 AVON & SOMERSET 173 215 249 312 
			 BEDFORDSHIRE 172 269 414 419 
			 CAMBRIDGESHIRE 43 45 155 172 
			 CHESHIRE 523 337 356 773 
			 CLEVELAND 13 63 86 154 
			 CITY OF LONDON 39 131 364 275 
			 CUMBRIA 53 45 65 134 
			 DERBYSHIRE 253 363 312 254 
			 DEVON & CORNWALL 76 32 94 54 
			 DORSET 182 180 215 195 
			 DURHAM 57 66 96 91 
			 ESSEX 165 176 138 138 
			 GLOUCESTERSHIRE 140 166 109 121 
			 GTR MANCHESTER 528 406 440 364 
			 HAMPSHIRE 116 108 128 167 
			 HERTFORDSHIRE 81 129 157 155 
			 HUMBERSIDE 273 170 158 184 
			 KENT 89 132 193 124 
			 LANCASHIRE 192 185 273 228 
			 LEICESTERSHIRE 292 232 269 232 
			 LINCOLNSHIRE 470 367 355 276 
			 MERSEYSIDE 974 547 687 677 
			 METROPOLITAN 1,667 2,447 2,423 2,322 
			 NORFOLK 157 186 169 163 
			 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 25 90 99 89 
			 NORTHUMBRIA 1,349 1,204 1,063 893 
			 NORTH YORKSHIRE 60 67 110 144 
			 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 333 397 404 336 
			 SOUTH YORKSHIRE 221 280 322 438 
			 STAFFORDSHIRE 208 241 212 183 
			 SUFFOLK 116 160 194 119 
			 SURREY 225 240 190 140 
			 SUSSEX 189 171 250 163 
			 THAMES VALLEY 174 167 179 265 
			 WARWICKSHIRE 104 31 138 102 
			 WEST MERCIA 100 111 241 152 
			 WEST MIDLANDS 563 592 975 952 
			 WEST YORKSHIRE 609 565 543 656 
			 WILTSHIRE 43 39 28 54 
			 DYFED POWYS 28 29 28 48 
			 GWENT 16 16 23 74 
			 NORTH WALES 265 198 153 180 
			 SOUTH WALES 218 253 161 165

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

South Asia Earthquake: Relief

Hilary Benn: I am today committing a further £25 million to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the 8 October earthquake in Pakistan. This will bring DFID's total contribution to the relief effort to £58 million, which together with our pledge of £70 million to the reconstruction effort over three years, means that the UK's total contribution to relief and reconstruction is £128 million.
	DFID has focused its initial £33 million of relief support on practical assistance, including shelter and logistics, and funding for the relief programmes of the United Nations, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organisations. Although the relief effort has gathered pace, with the onset of harsh winter conditions the need to strengthen relief operations is now critical. In particular, we need to provide for those living above the snow line or in organised or spontaneous camps. Further support for logistics, shelter, camp management, health, water and sanitation, and nutrition is required.
	The additional funds announced today will help do this. We will also be giving further support to the United Nations' helicopter operation. As part of this, £5.5 million will go to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, as DFID takes on the contracts for four medium lift Mi-8 helicopters for a four month period. With the onset of winter the need is shifting away from heavy-lift helicopters like the UK CH-47 Chinooks—which are now completing their operations—towards medium-lift helicopters to ensure deliveries to remote and isolated communities. The Mi-8 helicopters are ideally suited to the environmental conditions and will be able to deliver relief to any location in the affected area throughout winter.
	I can also report that this funding will help support an 86 strong team drawn from 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers to be deployed under NATO command, to undertake emergency shelter building operations in remote high-altitude areas in the Bagh region. The Royal Engineers unit are highly specialist troops who are trained to operate in winter and mountainous conditions.
	DFID will also be providing further support for: shelter and winter kits, including stoves, for high altitudes; management and servicing of camp sites; primary health care centres, mobile clinics, women's health and counselling; water and sanitation in camps, local communities and hospitals; and food in both camps and displaced communities in remote areas.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Meg Munn: The Government propose the Commission for Equality and Human Rights would be based in two sites in England, with a majority of staff based in Manchester and a significant presence in London. The CEHR would also have offices in Glasgow and Cardiff and a strong regional presence throughout Great Britain.
	The provisions establishing the CEHR are set out in the Equality Bill, which is currently before Parliament.
	The decision follows an independent study conducted on behalf of Government to identify suitable options for the location of the new organisation. Further work will be undertaken as to the way in which the functions of the CEHR will be divided between the various sites. All existing Commissions will be fully engaged in this process. The report of the location study, a Race Equality Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment, will be placed in the House Libraries shortly.